Sig Sauer ROMEO5 Gen 1 vs Gen 2: Comparison & Review

What a time to be alive—bomb-proof red dots with (multiple) high-end mounts… under $150?

The Sig Sauer ROMEO5 Gen 2 is an updated version of one of the most popular budget red dots: the ROMEO5 Gen 1. Sig Sauer went back to the drawing board on one of their best-selling optics under $150 and made some changes: durability, brightness adjustment, lens coatings, and the mount have all been improved.

But how does the second generation ROMEO5 actually perform compared to the first generation?

We’ve done a complete comparison and review of the ROMEO 5 Gen 1 vs Gen 2 so you can decide if it is worth picking up the latest generation from Sig. For anyone interested in the Gen 2 Elite, stick around until the end—we'll take a look at the different reticles it comes with and compare it to the standard Gen 2.

Gen I

Sig Sauer ROMEO5 Gen I

The original, best-selling optic from Sig Sauer—one of the all-time best red dot sights under $150.

Gen II

Sig Sauer ROMEO5 Gen II

Released late in 2024, a more durable update on the first generation ROMEO5.

Gen II Elite

Sig Sauer ROMEO5 Gen II Elite

Same as the ROMEO5 Gen II, featuring four different reticles that can be changed any time.

ROMEO5 Gen 1 vs Gen 2

We’ll save you some time and start with this: if you don’t own the ROMEO5 Gen 1 or Gen 2 and want to pick one up, these optics are some of the best in their price range ($120-$150). The ROMEO5 Gen 2 has a handful of small improvements that add up to an incredible optic for under $150—we’d argue one of the best.

We do have a few concerns with the new lens setup on the Gen 2 and will share our honest thoughts so you can decide if the ROMEO5 Gen 1 or Gen 2 is the better choice.

Updated Mount

The ROMEO5 Gen 2 and Gen 2 Elite comes with a new “I-beam” mount that looks and feels much nicer than the original Gen 1 mount. The newly included I-beam mount gives the Gen 2 a high-end look that usually only comes from after-market red dot mounts. Both sit at 1.41” and provide an absolute co-witness with iron sights.

Made of thicker aluminum, the new I-beam mount feels much more sturdy than the mount from the Gen 1, and the coatings used on the optic’s body and mount look much nicer.

If you plan on mounting this red dot on a pistol or a rifle with a taller receiver/rail and don’t want the additional height from the I-beam, the ROMEO5 Gen 2 also includes a “low mount” that places the red dot directly against the Picatinny rail. Just make sure you buy the correct version (there are a few SKUs of this optic): some include the low mount, while others don’t.

We bought our Gen 2 directly from Sig Sauer and it included the low mount (link to Sig Sauer's ROMEO5 Gen 2 with low mount).

Reticle, Glass & Sight Picture

The only area where the ROMEO5 Gen 2 and Gen 2 Elite falls short compared to the Gen 1 is in terms of glass quality and sight picture. It's important to note that we're being nit-picky here, but we want to provide a thorough comparison of these two optics.

The Gen 2's front lens is slightly more curved than the Gen 1, resulting in a "fisheye" effect along the edges of the glass. If your eye is aligned perfectly with the centerline of the Gen 2, the sight picture appears super crisp. The problem mostly occurs when your head is not aligned perfectly with the optic, causing the distortion at the edges. The Gen 2 also has an ever-so-slightly smaller window, and a more blue hue (although this didn't bother us).

Does any of this actually impact you as the shooter? I don't think so. I do prefer the clear glass on the Gen 1, but if you're shooting with both eyes open, the slight distortion at the edges of the Gen 2 will not impact target acquisition or aim—it is hardly noticeable to begin with. When you contrast this with all of the improvements made with the Gen 2 (namely the mount and durability), I would still choose the ROMEO5 Gen 2 over the Gen 1.

Looking at reticles, both models offer the same 2 MOA dot unless you spend the extra $100 on the Gen 2 Elite that comes with four reticle options (jump to the end to see photos of the Elite's reticle options). The new ROMEO5 XDR also offers 2 different reticles, and can switch between a 2 MOA dot or 65 MOA outer ring + the dot

If you're looking for a red dot sight with multiple reticles, we still prefer the ROMEO5 Elite or the 503 series from Holosun. The XDR series has a fixed mount that cannot be removed from the optic.

The XDR is nice if you really want to use AAA batteries, but we prefer the lighter CR2032 in the standard ROMEO5. The removable I-beam mount on the ROMEO5 Gen 2 is more versatile if you want to change mounts/heights for different guns.

Battery Life & Shake Awake

One area where the optics are still the same: the ROMEO5 Gen 1 and Gen 2 both use Sig Sauer's "MOTAC" technology, also known as "shake awake". If you leave your optic powered on, the red dot will turn off after a while to save battery life. If it senses any motion, it will immediately power back on. The MOTAC/shake awake on the ROMEO5 Gen 1 and Gen 2 both work great—it's a nice feature to have at this price point.

Both optics use the coin-shaped, CR2032 battery common with most red dot sights, and Sig Sauer advertises 40,000 hours (4.5 years) of runtime for both models. We have a suspicion that the Gen 2 may run longer thanks to the new lens coatings, though.

Durability & Rugged Design

Possibly one of the largest areas of improvement when looking at the ROMEO5 Gen 2—durability has been improved substantially. Areas around the windage and elevation adjustment knobs have been recessed completely, and all sides of the Gen 2 have been built-up to protect the body of the optic against falls.

The front lens also features a rubberized “hood” that helps absorb impacts and protects it from damage.

The first-generation ROMEO5 was already incredibly durable, but these new improvements give us extra peace of mind.

Better Controls & Adjustments

The ROMEO5 Gen 2 brightness adjustment controls are also more tactile and feature a more durable rubber cover (plus 2 additional daytime brightness levels). 

Windage and elevation adjustment for zeroing the optic no longer require unscrewing cap covers like the Gen 1, which is nice. Use the included tool (or flathead screwdriver, shell casing, etc.) to turn the recessed dials and zero the optic.

Improved Lens Coatings & Performance

Sig Sauer not only refreshed the metal coatings on the optic body and mount but also the lens of the ROMEO 5 Gen 2.

Looking at the front lens, you’ll immediately notice a more reflective red hue on models with a red dot (or greenish blue if you purchased the green-dot version). The color changes in the lens were likely made to improve battery life (we reached out to Sig Sauer to confirm, though).

With the ROMEO5 Gen 2, Sig Sauer also advertises a handful of other lens technologies that weren’t present on the ROMEO5 Gen 1. These include their new SpectraCoat, LensArmor, and LensShield technology:

• LensArmor: Abrasion-resistant lens coatings for extreme durability ensure the lenses on your scope will stay sharp, bright, and clear.
• LensShield: Proprietary Mil-Spec oleophobic coating that sheds water, oil, and gunk to ensure a clean sight image at all times.
• SpectraCoat: Highly efficient, ultra-wide broadband, anti-reflection lens coatings reduce surface reflections to extremely low levels across the entire visible spectrum providing superior light transmission.

To summarize, these coatings add up to a more durable, and less-reflective lens that sheds liquid better than the Gen 1. We were curious how much of this was marketing vs actual improvements so we tested the ROMEO5 Gen 1 and Gen 2 by running water over the lenses.

The “Lens Shield” coating Sig Sauer has applied is helpful: water beads up better on the surface of the ROMEO5 Gen 2’s lens and runs off faster than the Gen 1. This is incredibly helpful in rainy or wet conditions where the lens can get covered by raindrops or other debris.

Without destroying both optics, it's difficult to comment on the improved lens durability, but we’ll return in a few months to discuss how the ROMEO5 Gen 2 holds up long-term compared to the Gen 1.

Beyond the advertised improvements, the sight picture feels almost identical when comparing the ROMEO5 Gen 1 vs Gen 2. The Gen 2 does have a slightly more blue hue when looking through the optic, but this is pretty common in red dots where manufacturers are trying to achieve the best battery life possible. This didn’t bother us when shooting, though.

ROMEO5 Gen 2 vs Gen 2 Elite

The ROMEO5 Gen 2 Elite is almost identical to the standard ROMEO5 Gen 2 (they even share the same operator's manual)—the only difference is that the Elite offers 4 different reticles:

Holding the "+" and "-" brightness adjustment buttons on the Gen 2 Elite will slowly rotate through the reticles—releasing the buttons will lock-in the selected reticle. The ROMEO5 Gen 2 Elite retails for $250 while the standard ROMEO5 Gen 2 has an MSRP of $150. Besides the reticle options, the Gen 2 Elite offers the exact same lenses, glass quality and clarity as the standard ROMEO5 Gen 2.

Our thoughts: Should you buy a ROMEO5 Gen 2?

If you’re shopping for an awesome red dot under the $150 mark, the ROMEO5 Gen 2 is our first choice. The first-generation ROMEO5 became a staple in the firearms community, and we frequently throw this red dot on our AR15 builds with zero issues.

When I started writing this article, I originally planned to catch and release this optic after finishing the review since I already owned a few of the ROMEO5 Gen 1, but I’ve been thoroughly impressed with the new look of the Gen 2 (especially the I-beam mount). 

The updated front lens is slightly less clear than the Gen 1, but the difference is so minimal it isn't really worth considering. I think the new mount and added durability outweigh the clarity drawbacks, making the ROMEO5 Gen 2 my preference over the Gen 1.

The new second-generation ROMEO5 puts some polish on an already outstanding optic, packing a ton of value at a fantastic price. The new mount and added durability make this one of our favorite red dots regardless of budget.

If you’re looking to refresh your first-generation ROMEO5 or are looking for a new red dot at a great price point, this is one of our top picks.